Switch stand



I. K. DIXON.

SWITCH STAND.

APPLICATION m n MAR. 9. 1922.

Patented May 16, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

I. K. DIXON.

SWITCH STAND.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9, 1922.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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I. K. DIXON.

V SWITCH STAND. APPUCATION mu) ma. 9. 1922.

" 1,416,399 4 Patented May 16, 1922. I

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

I. K. DIXON.

SWITCH STAND.

APPLICATION FlLED MAR. 9, 1922.

1,%16,399n Patented May 16, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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SWITCH STAND.

iaiesoe Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16 1222..

Application filed March 9, 1922. Serial No. 542,376.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISRAEL-K. DIXON, a. citizen of the United States, and resident of Johnstown, in the county of Cambria and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new' and useful Improvements in Switch Stands, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to switch stands and more particularly to automatic safety switch stands that will normally hold the switch in thrown position and will permit the switch to be trailed without damaging the stand.

One object of the present invention is to construct a switch stand of improved design and construction and embodying the above features.

Another object is to provide a roller bearing and cam lock mechanism for normally holding the switch in its thrown position.

A still further object is to provide a switch having the novel construction, and combination of parts described in the following specification, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a switch stand embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the switch stand of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan on the line III-III of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a top plan of the roller hearing plate of the switch stand.

Figure 5 is an elevation ofthe lower or' cam end of the splndle on which the rollerbearing plate rides.

Figure (3 16 a top plan of thespindle.

Fioures 7 8,9, 10 and 11 are sectional plans on the lines VII-VIL VIII- VI-TI, IX-IX, X-X and XIXI, respectively, of- Figure 2. f

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the casing of the switch stand comprises a base portion 2, a main tubular upright portion 8anda cap or top member 1.

The base 2 and cap 4L are apertured to permit a target shaft 5 to pass centrally through the entire structure.

The base 2 is provided on its inner or top face with a boss 6 forming a bearing for a tubular spindle 7 which extendsupwardly within the portion 3 of the casing around the shaft 5. The spindle 7 is provided with an outwardly extending flange 8 on its lower end, which has boss 9 on its under side adapted to coact with the boss 6 on the base 2 to form a proper bearing for the spindle.

The flange 8 is providedwith a series of upwardly projecting cam members 10. A

roller bearing plate 11 is mounted for ver-- tical moveinentabove the flange 8 and is provided with suitable recesses 12 for the reception of roller bearings 14. The plate 11 is provided with grooves or guideways 15 at each end adapted to receive vertical guide flanges 16 on the upright casing member 3 so as to guide the plate in its vertical movementand to lock it against rotation;

A coil spring 17 is mounted around the spindle 7and has its lower end in engagement with the plate 11 and its upper end in engagement with an inwardly projecting flange or shoulder 18 on the casing member 3 to thereby yieldingly holdthe plate 11 and its rollers in engagement with the cam faces on the flange 8 of the spindle 7. The shoulder 18 also serves to form a bearing for the upper end of the spindle 7.

The upper end of the spindle above the upper end of the shoulder 18 is squared as shown in Figure 10 and is adapted to fit snugly within a square 2 socket 20 in the lower end of they cap 4i.

The target shaft 5 is squared above the spindle 7 and is provided with a squared sleeve 21 (sceFigure 11) whiclrfits snugly within a squared bearing aperture 21 passingthrough the cap 1.

The cap 4 is adapted to slide vertically on the sleeve 21 and for this purpose .a lever 22 is pivotally mounted onthe sleeve 21 and is connected by links 23 to lugs 2 1 on the cap. A latch 25 is provided on the cap 1 and is adapted to project through a suitable aperture 26 in thelever 22 when the cap is in its lower position. vAn aperture 27 is provided in the latch 25 adapted to receive a padlock or the like locking device to lock the stand in this position.

It will thus be seen that when the cap 4 is in its lower position the target shaft 5 is locked to the spindle 7 since the squared end of the spindle is in the squared socket of the cap, and therefore cannot be turned unless it is turned witi the spindle. The spring 1'? is of such strei 1 that it would be impossible for the su tch to be thus operated. However, the switch should be trailed, the spring will give sufficiently to permit the plate ll to move vertically as the flange 8 on the spindle is rotated and its cam members forced against the rollers 14:.

The upper end of the target shaft 5 may carry any desired target (not shown) as is usual in this class of switch stands, and its lower end is provided with an offset head 29 having a screw threaded aperture 30 therein for the reception of the adjustable connecting arm 31, the arm 31 being adapt: ed to have its forked end pivotally connect ed to the switch operating rod 32.

The operation of the switch stand is as follows: Assuming thatthe' lever 22 is in its lower position and the switch stand is locked in position and it is desired to throw the switch, the lever 22 will be raised to lift the cap 4; free of the square end on the spindle '1', thus allowing free movement of the target shaft 5. lihe lever 22 will then be pushed sidewise, which will revolve the cap 4, sleeve 21 and shaft 5 and operate the switch through the connecting arm 31 and operating rod 32. After the switch is thus operated the lever 22 will be forced down over the latch 25 and thus again move the cap 4 down into engagement with the spindle 7 and lock the switch stand parts against rotation,

If, however, when the stand is thus locked in position the switch is trailed, the shaft 5 will be forced to revolve, and since it is looked through the cap 4 and sleeve 21 to the spindle 7, the spindle will be rotated and its cam members 10 will be forced against the rollers 14 journaled in the plate 11, thus forcing the plate upwardly against the spring 17 until the cams 14 pass under the rollers when the spring will force the plate 11 downwardly again and lock the switch in its trailed position.

It will thus be seen that while the switch is locked against manual operation it will operate when trailed and thus prevent breaking of the switch parts.

I claim:

1. A switch stand comprising a casing, a tubular spindle mounted for rotation within said casing, said spindle being provided with an outwardly extending flange at its lower end having upwardly projecting cam faces thereon, a target shaft mounted within said spindle and extending through-said casing at its upper and lower ends, a roller hearing plate mounted for vertical movement within said casing, rollers journaled in said plate, resilient means for holding said plate under tension against said cam faces, and

. bearing plate mounted for vertical movement within said casing, rollers journaled in said plate, resilient means for holding said plate under tension against said cam faces, means for locking said spindle to said target shaft, and means for releasing said locking means to permit the rotation of said shaft free from said spindle.

3. A switch stand comprising a casing, a tubular spindle mounted for rotation within said casin said. spindle being provided I I with an outwardly extending flange at its lower end having upwardly projecting cam faces thereon, a target shaft mounted within said spindle and extending through said casing at its upper and lower ends, a roller bear-in g plate mounted for vertical movement within said casing, rollers journaled in said plate, a coil spring mounted in said casing and bearing against said plate to resiliently hold said plate and its rollers against said cam faces on said spindle, said shaft being squared above said spindle, a squared sleeve mounted on said squared portion of said shaft, a cap mounted against rotation and for vertical movement on said squared sleeve, said spindle being provided with a squared upper end and being adapted to normally fit within a squared socket in the lower end of said cap, whereby said cap, squared sleeve, target shaft and spindle are all looked together, and means for movingsaid cap vertieally on said squared sleeve to permit ro tation of said cap, sleeve, and shaft free of said spindle, v

4-. A switch stand comprising a casing, a tubular spindle mounted for rotation within. said casing, said spindle being provided with an outwardly extending flange at its lower end having upwardly projecting cam faces thereon, a target shaft mounted within said spindle and extending through said casing at its; upper and lower ends, a roller bearing plate mounted for vertical movement within said casing, rollers journaled in said plate, a coil spring mounted in said casing and bearing against said plate to resiliently hold said plate and its rollers against said cam faces on said spindle, said shaft being squared above said spindle, a squared sleeve mounted on said squared portion of said shaft, a cap mounted against rotation and for vertical movement on said squared sleeve, said spindle being provided with a squared upper end and being adapted to normally fit within a squared socket in lever will move said cap vertically on said the lower end of said cap, whereby said cap, squared sleeve to permit rotation of said cap,

squared sleeve, target shaft and spindle are sleeve and shaft free of said spindle.

all looked together, a lever pivoted to said In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 10 5 sleeve, and links connecting said lever to said my hand.

cap whereby a vertical movement of said ISRAEL K. DIXON. 

